Is it ok to have already made platters of food at wedding reception?

Question

I am having a very small wedding and reception in May 2007. Is it ok to have platters already done up for a reception that you can get a your local super market?

It is a very low budget wedding.

Answer 1

it is your wedding/ reception do it the way you want it! but, yes i do feel that it is okay!

Answer 2

Yes, why not? But for the same price you may be able to go to a local restaurant and have them supply platters of lasagna, meatballs, antipasto, etc. They might be a little more "elegant" than a local supermarket's display will be.

We've done this for company parties and the like and we found the supermarket platters actually were more money per person than the larger restaurant platters, etc.

Remember, it's your wedding. And you can do whatever you want (within reason, you don't want to insult your guests). But this is a lovely idea - you can really spruce it up and fancy it up in a lot of low budget ways too.

Answer 3

Yes, generally speaking I think this is fine... Veggie platters, crackers and cheese trays, fruit platter, sweets etc.... could be quite lovely - plus, who needs to know? Don't tell everyone!!!

I think it is very smart to plan a wedding you can afford.

All that said, are you having a caterer? I discussed the idea of doing this very same thing with my caterer (before I hired him) as I also had a small budet for my small wedding. He matched the price on the platters from the store in order to get my business on the rest of the food.

Some reception venues will not let you bring in outside food either. Better check with your location first.

Congratulations and Good Luck with all your planning!

Answer 4

Hi, Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. There is absolutely nothing wrong at all with this. We just got married May 27th, 2006. It was a small wedding of about 55 guests. We did the exact same thing. For our reception, we had sub sandwich platters, vegetable trays with dip, fruit trays with dip and chips and dip. These were trays that were purchased from our local Wal-Mart bakery. I have pics that you could see as our weddind and reception turned out beautiful and the guests were pleased with everything as well. Best wishes to you!!

Answer 5

I think that an already made platter is in poor taste. I'm not trying to tell you this to offend you, but rather to give you sensible advice.

To heat up those plated or defrost them all at the same time it would be a nightmare unless you want the food cold or people waiting in line to get their food out of the microwave. Not practical at all.

You can do a buffet style dinner on a budget. You can purchase cold cut platters, cheese and cracker platters and veggie trays beautifully arranged for you. You can get those from a grocery store or bulk food suplier. You can also have cookie and cheese cake trays, fruit trays, and different type of rolls.

If you look online, youc an find beautiful plasticware that resembles real china and silverware and they are made for weddings. This can be purchased at a very reasonable price.


Congratulations and good luck.

Answer 6

I see no reason why you couldn't have the pre-made platters of meat/cheese, vegetable crudite', etc. at your reception.

I would suggest however, that you raid your Mother's, Future Mother-in-law's and any other female family member's cupboards for pretty serving platters to have the food transferred to instead of serving on the black plastic platters that it comes on.

Also, check your local thrift store and/or dollar stores and well as garage sales for pretty serving platters, you can pick these up cheap and your buffet can still look elegant.

It is all about presentation of the food in a lot of cases. The better it looks, the more people will want to eat.

Answer 7

Yes, definitely. My best friend will be married two years next month and for her reception, her husband and her had a party in the evening at their house. She ordered pre made food platters from a local grocery store and then her husband's aunt made the wedding cake. That was for the food and they simply picked up wine, beer and hard liquor from the local liquor store.

Answer 8

Yes, for an informal wedding that's fine and smart.

Make sure to to do a sort of quality check on the supermarket deli you choose to make sure they are really who you want to trust this project to-- get photos of their platters and maybe even try to get a reference from a past customers. (There are great cheese and fruit platters, and there are terrible chese and fruit platters...) I've seen really nice things from Whole Foods in our area, for example. More upscale grocery stores like that.

If you are not serving a meal your invitations should indicate something like:

Join us for light refreshments at three o'clock

OR

Wine and cheese reception at three o'clock

or whatever, so people understand not to expect a meal.

Answer 9

Any food you want at your reception is acceptable as it is your party. Getting food from supermarkets would be the lowest budget option of all weddings so if that is your goal or restriction, than go for it. If you have some more $$ to spend, hire a caterer and let them do the work so you can relax and eat better!

Answer 10

of course it is fine. just enjoy this day and don't put to much worry into the reception.

premade platters are fine, especially if you are having a small wedding.

also you could go to wal-mart and get a few of the small decorations for wedding showers, like small cake toppers or champagne glasses and wedding bells, and use them in the center of the platters instead of the parsley leaves.

have a great wedding day and good luck.

Answer 11

I just attended a wedding reception that had done this & it was really nice. Also some friends & family contributed by making some of the food. Just make sure you include the vegetarians & people on restricted diets as well.